Camacho & Reinhard stated in the December 2019 issue of the KJP (57: 621-625) that we confused a pollen grain with an Enterobius egg found in the grave of a female adolescent residing in ancient Tehran 7,000 years ago. We want here to clarify and answer to the outlined points in their article.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Paleoparasitology and archaeoparasitology in Iran: A retrospective in differential diagnosis Alireza Sazmand International Journal of Paleopathology.2021; 32: 50. CrossRef
There is often the risk of confusing pollen grains with helminth eggs from archaeological sites. Thousands to millions of pollen grains can be recovered from archaeological burial sediments that represent past ritual, medication and environment. Some pollen grain types can be similar to parasite eggs. Such a confusion is represented by the diagnosis of enterobiasis in ancient Iran. The authors of this study confused a joint-pine (Ephedra spp.) pollen grain with a pinworm egg. This paper describes the specific Ephedra pollen morphology that can be confused with pinworm eggs.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Detection of Enterobius vermicularis in archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) appendectomy blocks: It’s potential to compare genetic variations based on mitochondrial DNA (cox1) gene Maryam Haghshenas, Mona Koosha, Alireza Latifi, Elham Kazemirad, Arash Dehghan, Bahram Nikmanesh, Gholamreza Mowlavi, Ebrahim Shokoohi PLOS ONE.2023; 18(2): e0281622. CrossRef
Comparative study of a broad qPCR panel and centrifugal flotation for detection of gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples from dogs and cats in the United States Christian M. Leutenegger, Cecilia E. Lozoya, Jeffrey Tereski, Jan Andrews, Kelly D. Mitchell, Cathy Meeks, Jennifer L. Willcox, Gregory Freeman, Holly L. Richmond, Christian Savard, Michelle D. Evason Parasites & Vectors.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
A novel use of a geometric morphometric technique to distinguish human parasite eggs of twelve different species Nantana Suwandittakul, Mathirut Mungthin, Kewarin Kuntawong, Sedthapong Laojun, Siripong Pimsuka, Tanawat Chaiphongpachara Experimental Parasitology.2022; 238: 108281. CrossRef
The development of an artificial intelligence-based digital pathology for neglected tropical diseases: A platform specific analysis of the World Health Organization diagnostic target product profile for soil-transmitted helminthiasis Peter Ward, Lindsay A. Broadfield, Peter Dahlberg, Gemechu Leta, Zeleke Mekonnen, Betty Nabatte, Narcis Kabatereine, Alan Brooks, Kristina M. Orrling, Mireille Gomes, Sofie Van Hoecke, Bruno Levecke, Lieven J. Stuyver Frontiers in Tropical Diseases.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Paleoparasitology and archaeoparasitology in Iran: A retrospective in differential diagnosis Alireza Sazmand International Journal of Paleopathology.2021; 32: 50. CrossRef
Paleomicrobiology of the human digestive tract: A review Riccardo Nodari, Michel Drancourt, Rémi Barbieri Microbial Pathogenesis.2021; 157: 104972. CrossRef
Attempting to simplify methods in parasitology of archaeological sediments: An examination of taphonomic aspects Aida Romera Barbera, Darwin Hertzel, Karl J. Reinhard Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.2020; 33: 102522. CrossRef
Excavation (2008-2014) carried out under the Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy) led to the discovery of 75 individuals, mostly buried in multiple graves. Based on Roman minted coins, the graves were preliminarily dated between the second half of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries CE. Taphonomy showed that this was an emergency burial site associated with a catastrophic event, possibly an epidemic of unknown etiology with high mortality rates. In this perspective, paleoparasitological investigations were performed on 18 individuals exhumed from 9 multiple graves to assess the burden of gastrointestinal parasitism. Five out of eighteen individuals (27.7%) tested positive for ascarid-type remains; these are considered as “decorticated” Ascaris eggs, which have lost their outer mammillated coat. Roundworms (genus Ascaris) commonly infest human populations under dire sanitary conditions. Archaeological and historical evidence indicates that Florentia suffered a period of economic crisis between the end of 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries CE, and that the aqueduct was severely damaged at the beginning of the 4th century CE, possibly during the siege of the Goths (406 CE). It is more than plausible that the epidemic, possibly coupled with the disruption of the aqueduct, deeply affected the living conditions of these individuals. A 27.7% frequency suggests that ascariasis was widespread in this population. This investigation exemplifies how paleoparasitological information can be retrieved from the analysis of sediments sampled in cemeteries, thus allowing a better assessment of the varying frequency of parasitic infections among ancient populations.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Evidence of parasites in the ancient city of Delos (Greece) during the hellenistic period Kévin Roche, Nicolas Capelli, Alain Bouet, Matthieu Le Bailly Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Using intestinal parasites to identify the utilization of archaeological structures: A 12th-13th century sewer systems from an Islamic funduq (Murcia, Spain) Ramón López-Gijón, Alicia Hernández-Robles, Salvatore Duras, Mireia Celma, Ana Curto, José Ángel González-Ballesteros, Benjamin Dufour, Matthieu Le Bailly, Jorge A. Eiroa Journal of Archaeological Science.2025; 180: 106266. CrossRef
Sedimentary ancient DNA as part of a multimethod paleoparasitology approach reveals temporal trends in human parasitic burden in the Roman period Marissa L. Ledger, Tyler J. Murchie, Zachery Dickson, Melanie Kuch, Scott D. Haddow, Christopher J. Knüsel, Gil J. Stein, Mike Parker Pearson, Rachel Ballantyne, Mark Knight, Koen Deforce, Maureen Carroll, Candace Rice, Tyler Franconi, Nataša Šarkić, Saša PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.2025; 19(6): e0013135. CrossRef
Paleoparasitological evidence of helminth infections in individuals from two Late Iron Age necropolises in Northern Italy (3rd-1st c. BCE) Ramón López-Gijón, Zita Laffranchi, Wolf-Rüdiger Teegen, Matthieu Le Bailly, Salvatore Duras, Kévin Roche, Daniele Vitali, Luciano Salzani, Albert Zink, Marco Milella International Journal of Paleopathology.2025; 51: 1. CrossRef
Palaeoparasitological evidence for a possible sanitary stone vessel from the Roman city of Viminacium, Serbia Nemanja Marković, Angelina Raičković Savić, Ana Mitić, Piers D. Mitchell Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.2024; 57: 104671. CrossRef
Intestinal Parasitic Infection in Roman Britain: Integrating New Evidence from Roman London Marissa L. Ledger, Rebecca Redfern, Piers D. Mitchell Britannia.2024; 55: 99. CrossRef
Implications of the prevalence of Ascaris sp. in the funerary context of a Late Antique population (5th-7th c.) in Granada (Spain) Ramón López-Gijón, Edgard Camarós, Ángel Rubio-Salvador, Salvatore Duras, Miguel C. Botella-López, Inmaculada Alemán-Aguilera, Ángel Rodríguez-Aguilera, Macarena Bustamante-Álvarez, Lydia P. Sánchez-Barba, Benjamin Dufour, Matthieu Le Bailly International Journal of Paleopathology.2023; 43: 45. CrossRef
Intestinal parasite infection in the Augustinian friars and general population of medieval Cambridge, UK Tianyi Wang, Craig Cessford, Jenna M. Dittmar, Sarah Inskip, Peter M. Jones, Piers D. Mitchell International Journal of Paleopathology.2022; 39: 115. CrossRef
Using parasite analysis to identify ancient chamber pots: An example of the fifth century CE from Gerace, Sicily, Italy Sophie Rabinow, Tianyi Wang, Roger J.A. Wilson, Piers D. Mitchell Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.2022; 42: 103349. CrossRef
Reconstructing the history of helminth prevalence in the UK Hannah Ryan, Patrik G Flammer, Rebecca Nicholson, Louise Loe, Ben Reeves, Enid Allison, Christopher Guy, Inés Lopez Doriga, Tony Waldron, Don Walker, Claas Kirchhelle, Greger Larson, Adrian L Smith, Subash Babu PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.2022; 16(4): e0010312. CrossRef
UBC Excavations of the Roman Villa at Gerace, Sicily: Results of the 2019 Season R.J.A. Wilson Mouseion.2022; 18(3): 379. CrossRef
Gastrointestinal parasite burden in 4th-5th c. CE Florence highlighted by microscopy and paleogenetics Kévin Roche, Nicolas Capelli, Elsa Pacciani, Paolo Lelli, Pasquino Pallecchi, Raffaella Bianucci, Matthieu Le Bailly Infection, Genetics and Evolution.2021; 90: 104713. CrossRef
Gastrointestinal infection in Italy during the Roman Imperial and Longobard periods: A paleoparasitological analysis of sediment from skeletal remains and sewer drains Marissa L. Ledger, Ileana Micarelli, Devin Ward, Tracy L. Prowse, Maureen Carroll, Kristina Killgrove, Candace Rice, Tyler Franconi, Mary Anne Tafuri, Giorgio Manzi, Piers D. Mitchell International Journal of Paleopathology.2021; 33: 61. CrossRef
Accessing Ancient Population Lifeways through the Study of Gastrointestinal Parasites: Paleoparasitology Matthieu Le Bailly, Céline Maicher, Kévin Roche, Benjamin Dufour Applied Sciences.2021; 11(11): 4868. CrossRef
Attempting to simplify methods in parasitology of archaeological sediments: An examination of taphonomic aspects Aida Romera Barbera, Darwin Hertzel, Karl J. Reinhard Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.2020; 33: 102522. CrossRef
Intestinal Parasitic Infection in the Eastern Roman Empire During the Imperial Period and Late Antiquity Marissa L. Ledger, Erica Rowan, Frances Gallart Marques, John H. Sigmier, Nataša Šarkić, Saša Redžić, Nicholas D. Cahill, Piers D. Mitchell American Journal of Archaeology.2020; 124(4): 631. CrossRef
An archaeoparasitological analysis of the soil samples from Nadym Gorodok site of Western Siberia has been carried out in this study. The archaeological site was dated as the 13 to 18th century, being characterized as permafrost region ensuring good preservation of ancient parasite eggs. Parasite eggs as Opisthorchisfelineus, Alariaalata, and Diphyllobothrium sp. were found in the archaeological soil samples, which made clear about the detailed aspects of Nadym Gorodok people’s life. We found the Diphyllobothrium sp. eggs throughout the 14 to 18th century specimens, allowing us to presume that raw or undercooked fish might have been commonly used for the foods of Nadym Gorodok inhabitants and their dogs for at least the past 400 years. Our study on Nadym Gorodok specimens also demonstrate that there might have been migratory interactions and strong economic ties between the people and society in Western Siberia, based on archaeoparasitological results of Opisthorchisfelineus in Western Siberia.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Early history of parasitic diseases in northern dogs revealed by dog paleofeces from the 9000-year-old frozen Zhokhov site in the New Siberian Islands of East Siberian Arctic S.M. Slepchenko, A.V. Khrustalev, S.N. Ivanov, I.V. Titova, A.K. Kasparov, V.G. Chasnyk, E.Y. Pavlova, V.V. Pitulko Journal of Archaeological Science.2025; 182: 106337. CrossRef
Clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis: epidemiology, transmission, clinical features, morbidity, diagnosis, treatment, and control Men-Bao Qian, Jennifer Keiser, Jürg Utzinger, Xiao-Nong Zhou, Graeme N. Forrest Clinical Microbiology Reviews.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Archaeoparasitology and pathoecology of Buchta Nakhodka, a medieval settlement in the far north of Western Siberia, dating from the 13th century S.M. Slepchenko, T.V. Lobanova, O.V. Kardash, G.V. Alyamkin, S.N. Ivanov, A.V. Chrustalev Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.2024; 59: 104754. CrossRef
Paleoparasitology research on ancient helminth eggs and larvae in the Republic of Korea Jong-Yil Chai, Min Seo, Dong Hoon Shin Parasites, Hosts and Diseases.2023; 61(4): 345. CrossRef
New contribution of archaeoparasitology in the Far North of Eastern Siberia: First data about the parasitological spectrum of Stadukhinsky Fort in the 17th-18th centuries Sergey Mikhailovich Slepchenko, Tatiana Vladimirovna Lobanova, Georgy Petrovich Vizgalov, Georgy Viktorovich Alyamkin, Sergey Nikolaevich Ivanov Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.2022; 41: 103304. CrossRef
Archaeoparasitological data and pathoecology of the town of Mangazeya in Western Siberia in the 17th century Sergey Mikhailovich Slepchenko, Tatiana Vladimirovna Lobanova, Georgy Petrovich Vizgalov, Sergey Nikolaevich Ivanov, Daria Sergeyevna Rakultseva Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.2021; 35: 102770. CrossRef
Archaeoparasitology — a new source of reconstruction of migrations of ancient populations: opportunities, results, and prospects S.M. Slepchenko VESTNIK ARHEOLOGII, ANTROPOLOGII I ETNOGRAFII.2021; (3(54)): 147. CrossRef
First results of the archaeoparasitological study of the Volna 1 burial ground (Temryuk District, Krasnodar Krai) S.М. Slepchenko, N.I. Sudarev, I.V. Tsokur, A.N. Abramova VESTNIK ARHEOLOGII, ANTROPOLOGII I ETNOGRAFII.2021; (4(55)): 125. CrossRef
Opisthorchis felineus as the basis for the reconstruction of migrations using archaeoparasitological materials Sergey Slepchenko Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.2020; 33: 102548. CrossRef
Whilst archaeological evidence for many aspects of life in ancient China is well studied, there has been much less interest in ancient infectious diseases, such as intestinal parasites in past Chinese populations. Here, we bring together evidence from mummies, ancient latrines, and pelvic soil from burials, dating from the Neolithic Period to the Qing Dynasty, in order to better understand the health of the past inhabitants of China and the diseases endemic in the region. Seven species of intestinal parasite have been identified, namely roundworm, whipworm, Chinese liver fluke, oriental schistosome, pinworm, Taenia sp. tapeworm, and the intestinal fluke Fasciolopsis buski. It was found that in the past, roundworm, whipworm, and Chinese liver fluke appear to have been much more common than the other species. While roundworm and whipworm remained common into the late 20th century, Chinese liver fluke seems to have undergone a marked decline in its prevalence over time. The iconic transport route known as the Silk Road has been shown to have acted as a vector for the transmission of ancient diseases, highlighted by the discovery of Chinese liver fluke in a 2,000 year-old relay station in northwest China, 1,500 km outside its endemic range.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Zipime-Weka-Schista study protocol: a longitudinal cohort study and economic evaluation of an integrated home-based approach for genital multipathogen screening in women, including female genital schistosomiasis, human papillomavirus, Trichomonas and HIV Kwame Shanaube, Rhoda Ndubani, Helen Kelly, Emily Webb, Philippe Mayaud, Olimpia Lamberti, Jennifer Fitzpatrick, Nkatya Kasese, Amy Sturt, Lisette Van Lieshout, Govert Van Dam, Paul L A M Corstjens, Barry Kosloff, Virginia Bond, Richard Hayes, Fern Terris BMJ Open.2024; 14(6): e080395. CrossRef
Ancient parasite analysis: Exploring infectious diseases in past societies Piers D. Mitchell Journal of Archaeological Science.2024; 170: 106067. CrossRef
Intestinal parasites from Hubei archaeological sites of early China (5th century BCE to 3rd century CE) Xiaoya Zhan, Mi Zhou, Qun Zhang, Hui-Yuan Yeh Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.2024; 58: 104734. CrossRef
Paleoparasitology research on ancient helminth eggs and larvae in the Republic of Korea Jong-Yil Chai, Min Seo, Dong Hoon Shin Parasites, Hosts and Diseases.2023; 61(4): 345. CrossRef
Tracing zoonotic parasite infections throughout human evolution Marissa L. Ledger, Piers D. Mitchell International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.2022; 32(3): 553. CrossRef
Schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China – down but not out Catherine A. Gordon, Gail M. Williams, Darren J. Gray, Archie C. A. Clements, Xiao-Nong Zhou, Yuesheng Li, Jürg Utzinger, Johanna Kurscheid, Simon Forsyth, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Jie Zhou, Zhaojun Li, Guangpin Li, Dandan Lin, Zhihong Lou, Shengming Li, Jun Parasitology.2022; 149(2): 218. CrossRef
Liver Fluke Infection Throughout Human Evolution Tianyi Wang, Piers D. Mitchell Gastro Hep Advances.2022; 1(4): 500. CrossRef
General overview of the current status of human foodborne trematodiasis Jong-Yil Chai, Bong-Kwang Jung Parasitology.2022; 149(10): 1262. CrossRef
The Contribution of Community Health Education to Sustainable Control of the Neglected Zoonotic Diseases Caitlin Butala, Jenna Fyfe, Susan Christina Welburn Frontiers in Public Health.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Clonorchis sinensis and clonorchiasis Byoung-Kuk Na, Jhang Ho Pak, Sung-Jong Hong Acta Tropica.2020; 203: 105309. CrossRef
Opisthorchis felineus as the basis for the reconstruction of migrations using archaeoparasitological materials Sergey Slepchenko Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.2020; 33: 102548. CrossRef
Review of Successful Control of Parasitic Infections in Korea Sung-Tae Hong, Tai-Soon Yong Infection & Chemotherapy.2020; 52(3): 427. CrossRef
A comparison of ancient parasites as seen from archeological contexts and early medical texts in China Hui-Yuan Yeh, Xiaoya Zhan, Wuyun Qi International Journal of Paleopathology.2019; 25: 30. CrossRef
Differential Change in the Prevalence of the Ascaris, Trichuris and Clonorchis infection Among Past East Asian Populations Xiaoya Zhan, Hui-Yuan Yeh, Dong Hoon Shin, Jong-Yil Chai, Min Seo, Piers D. Mitchell The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2019; 57(6): 601. CrossRef
Discovery of Eurytrema Eggs in Sediment from a Colonial Period Latrine in Taiwan Hui-Yuan Yeh, Chieh-fu Jeff Cheng, ChingJung Huang, Xiaoya Zhan, Weng Kin Wong, Piers D. Mitchell The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2019; 57(6): 595. CrossRef
Relationship between blood parameters and Clonorchis sinensis infection: A retrospective single center study Huaping Chen, Siyuan Chen, Zhili Huang, Lingxi Kong, Zuojian Hu, Shanzi Qin, Xue Qin, Shan Li International Immunopharmacology.2018; 59: 120. CrossRef
Trichuris trichiurain the mummified remains of southern Siberian nomads Vyacheslav Sergeyevich Slavinsky, Konstantin Vladimirovich Chugunov, Alexander Alekseevich Tsybankov, Sergey Nikolaevich Ivanov, Alisa Vladimirovna Zubova, Sergey Mikhailovich Slepchenko Antiquity.2018; 92(362): 410. CrossRef
Mummification in Korea and China: Mawangdui, Song, Ming and Joseon Dynasty Mummies Dong Hoon Shin, Raffaella Bianucci, Hisashi Fujita, Jong Ha Hong BioMed Research International.2018; 2018: 1. CrossRef
A Case of Ectopic Paragonimiasis in a 17th Century Korean Mummy D. H. Shin, Y.-S. Kim, D. S. Yoo, M. J. Kim, C. S. Oh, J. H. Hong, E. Lee, J. Y. Chai, M. Seo Journal of Parasitology.2017; 103(4): 399. CrossRef
First
Prev
